Splashing doll



H. L. DEKAN SPLASHING DOLL A ril 8, 1969 Sheet Filed Jan. 51, 1967INVENTOP HUM/A201. DEKA/V H. L. DEKAN SPLAS'HING DOLL April 8, 1969Sheet Filed Jan. 31, 1967 INVENTOQ HUM 4901.05544 ATTORNEYS States3,436,859 SPLASHING DOLL Howard L. Dekan, Evanston, IiL, assignor toMarvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 11]., a partnership Filed Jan. 31,1967, Ser. No. 612,881 Int. Cl. A63h 33/26, 11/00 US. Cl. 46-247 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motor operated mechanism for toys, dollsand the like, which includes a liquid responsive switch means, wherebythe motor is operated, for example when a doll incorporating themechanism is placed in a water-filled bath tub. Further, the operationof the motor effects a splashing movement of the dolls arms as well as amovement of the head, to thereby simulate the actions of a baby at playin the bath tub.

Background of the invention Summary of the invention A motor operatedtoy comprising an electric motor, drive means connected to the motor andconnected to a movable part on the toy, a battery powered circuit forthe motor including a liquid-level operated switch which is disposed toclose the circuit and operate the drive means when the toy is placed ina liquid. A specific object of the invention is to provide a doll havinga relatively movable head and arms, and including a motor operatedmechanism which is operable to effect a splashing motion of the armswhen the doll body is placed in a liquid. Another object of theinvention is to provide a motor operated doll mechanism in a doll body,including a float operated switch mechanism which is effective toenergize the motor when the doll is placed in water and to shut off themotor when the doll is removed from the water.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the selectedembodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thedoll;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the doll with portionsbroken away and in section to illustrate the operating mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 ir a view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

tot

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the doll head;and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanismtaken generally along the line 66 in FIGURE 2.

With reference to the dnawings, it will be seen that the selectedembodiment of this invention comprises a doll 10 having movable arms 12,movable legs 14 and a movable head 16. Generally the doll includesbattery powered mechanism which is connected with the arms and with thehead to effect alternate vertical movement of the arms, as in a Watersplasing motion, and an accompanying nodding of the head, generally fromside to side. The operation of such mechanism is controlled by meansincluding a float valve controlled switch 18, which is responsive towater or other liquid passing into and out of a sealed compartmentwithin the body of the doll. Thus, as the doll is placed in a bathtub,for example, and water enters into the compartment 22, the switch 24 isclosed to provide power to the mechanism 26 and effect up and downmotion of the arms 14 and a movement of the head 16. As the doll body isremoved from the water, the switch 24 opens to stop the operation of themotor and the mechanism.

More particularly, the motor operated mechanism 26 comprises asupporting frame structure 28, preferably of metal, which is suitablyfastened to the upper portion of the doll body as by screws 30. Thisgenerally rectangular frame has mounted thereon a transverse crankstructure having crank arms 30 at opposite ends, each engaging a slot 32in a bifurcated member 34 joined to each of the arms. The bifurcatedmember 34 is formed with a generally cylindrical serrated, journalportion 36 which fits within a serrated, circular opening 38 in theupper part of the body to thereby provide for swinging movement of thearm relative to the body. The rotation of the crank arm will, therefore,provide a raising and lowering motion for the arms 14, with theoperation of the arms being preferably out of phase so that one arm israised as the other is lowered, and vice versa. Further, the serrated orknurled joint between the member 34 and the arm opening 38 providessufficient friction to effect movement of the two in unison, while alsopermitting relative movement therebetween.

A conventional miniature electric motor 40 is mounted on the frame 28,and the drive shaft 42 of the motor is provided with a worm 44 disposedin position for driving engagement with a spur gear 46 carried by avertically extending shaft 48 journaled in a bracket 50 on the frame 28and a bracket 52 attached to the side of the frame. The spur gear 46 isconnected through speed reduction gears 54, 56, and 58 with a large ringgear 60 fixed to a vertically extending shaft 62 which is suitablyjournaled in the upper and lower plates of the frame structure 28. Thisvertically extending shaft 62 has a bent portion 62a to provide a crankfor effecting nodding operation of the head 16. The upper end of shaft62 is keyed to a boss 64 or the like in the upper part of the doll head,and as the shaft 62 rotates it causes the doll head 16, which isflexibly mounted on the torso or body 20 of the doll, to move side toside in a nodding motion.

The transverse crank shaft 65 which provides for operation of the armsis rotatably driven through means of a gear 66 mounted on the shaft forrotation therewith and having its teeth in meshing engagement with agear 68 which is fixed for rotation with the spur gear 46. Consequently,rotation of the spur gear 46 effects rotation of gear 66, transverseshaft 65 and the cranks 34 thereon. In order to effect intermittentmovement of the arms, the gear 66 is slidably mounted on the shaft 65for movement with a sleeve portion 70 having an enlarged flange 72 onone end and biased by a coil spring 74 interposed between such flangeand the opposite side wall 76 of the supporting frame 28. A cylindricalbearing element 78 on the other end of the shaft 65 provides a. spacerfor determining the operative position for the gear 66. The sleeve 70and gear 66 thereon are moved axially along the shaft 65 by means of apair of camming pins 80 fixed to the vertical shaft 62. As shaft 62rotates and one of the pins 80 engages the flange 72, it moves thesleeve 70 and gear 66 to the left, as seen in FIGURE 2, and therebypulls the gear 66 out of engagement with the driving gear 68. Continuedrotation of the rectangular shaft 62 frees the flange 72 from thecamming action of the pin 80, and the coil spring 74 moves the sleeve tothe right and thereby presses the gear 66 in engagement with its drivinggear 63. Consequently, in the illustrated embodiment (FIGURE 6) thereare two interruptions to the arm movement for each revolution of thevertical shaft 62.

The motor 40 is energized by a pair of flashlight batteries 82 containedin a housing 84 within the doll body and having a removable cover 86 atthe back of the doll for replacement of the batteries. A contact strip88 on the inner surface of the cover and a contact plate 90 at theopposite end of the housing complete the circuit for the batteries, andthe contact plate 90 (FIGURE 3) is connected by a first wire 92 with themotor and by a second wire 94 to the terminal 96 of the switch mechanism24, with the other terminal 98 of the switch being connected to themotor by a third wire 100. The movable switch terminal 96 comprises theouter end of a metalic rod 102 or the like, which extends within thefioat housing 22 and has a hollow plastic body 104 or the likecomprising a float fixed to its inner end. The rod 102 is supported by atransverse shaft 106 journaled in the housing. The opening 108 for themovable contact is sealed to prevent escapement of liquid from thehousing, as by means of a shroud 110 of rubber or other flexiblematerial. The stationary contact 98 is fixed to the outer portion of thehousing 22 in position for engagement by the movable contact 96. Theupper end of the housing 22 includes an air intake opening 112, and aflap valve 114 of flexible material, such as rubber, is disposed withinthe housing in position to prevent escapement of liquid through thisopening. The lower end of the housing is provided with a tube 116 whichextends downwardly through the doll body to the atmosphere.

As the doll body is placed in water or the like, preferably in a sittingposition, water enters the housing 22 through the tube 116 and causesthe float 104 to move upwardly. This in turn moves the contact 96 intoengagement with the stationary contact 98 and thereby closes theelectric circuit to the motor 40. The operation of the motor turns worm44 and the gear mechanism driven thereby to rotate shaft 65 and verticalshaft 62 to cause the vertical oscillating motion of the arms 14 in themanner previously described, and to cause a side to side nodding motionof the head 16. With the doll in a sitting position, the resultingeffect is a splashing of the water by the dolls arms 14 and theaccompanying head movement. As the doll body 20 is withdrawn from theliquid into the atmosphere, the water previously taken into the housing22 is drained out through the tube 116 and the float 104 movesdownwardly to thereby open the contacts 96, 98 and deenergize the motor40.

Although shown and described with respect to specific mechanism and aspecific embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention describedherein is applicable to other mechanisms and embodiments. It iscontemplated that other forms of toys which are usable in conjunctionwith water may be adapted to employ the principles of the inventiondescribed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor operated toy comprising an electricmotor, drive meansconnected to said motor for operation thereby, a part carried on saidtoy for relative movement and being connected with said drive means, abattery carried by said toy, and means providing an electricalconnection between said battery and said motor and including aliquid-level operated switch which is disposed to effect a closing ofthe electrical circuit and operation of said drive means when liquid isintroduced into said toy to actuate said switch.

2. A motor operated toy as set forth in claim 1, including a housingportion for the toy, and wherein said motor and drive means are enclosedwithin said housing, said housing including means providing fluidcommunication between the liquid operated switch and the exterior ofsaid housing, so that the placement of said housing in a liquid iseffective to close said switch.

3. A motor operated toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said toy is adoll, said relatively movable part is an arm on said doll, and includingmeans in the lower part of the doll body placing said liquid-leveloperated switch in communication with the exterior of the doll andproviding for the passage of liquid therethrough, so that when the dollis placed in a liquid the latter enters the body and closes the switch,thereby actuating the drive means to cause relative movement of the arm.

4. A doll comprising a body portion having a pair of arms mountedthereon for relative movement, a drive mechanism within said bodyincluding an electric motor having a drive shaft, a drive gear on saidshaft, a driven shaft connected with said drive gear and with each ofsaid movable arms through means operable to effect intermittent raisingand lowering of the arms upon rotation of said driven shaft anelectrical circuit within said body for controlling the operation ofsaid motor and including switch means which is operative to close saidcircuit when said body is placed in a liquid and to open said circuitwhen said body is withdrawn from the liquid, said switch means includinga liquid tight housing within said doll body, a liquid inlet opening inthe lower portion of said housing, a conduit placing said inlet in fluidcommunication with the exterior of said body, a float means pivotallysupported within said housing for movement between an upper and lowerportion of said housing, said float means including an electricalcontact extending outwardly of said housing and movable with said float,and a second electrical contact outside of said housing in position forengagement by said movable contact.

5. A doll comprising a body portion having a pair of arms and a headmounted thereon for relative movement, a drive mechanism within saidbody including an electric motor having a drive shaft, :1 drive gear onsaid shaft, 2. first driven shaft having means thereon connected withsaid head to effect movement of the head as said shaft is rotated, asecond driven shaft connected with each of said movable arms throughmeans including a crank and means fixed to the upper end of the arm forrotation therewith and which includes a slotted portion engaged by saidcrank, gear means connecting said drive gear with said first and seconddriven shafts, an electrical circuit within said body for controllingthe operation of said motor and including switch means which isoperative to close said circuit when said body is placed in a liquid andto open said circuit when said body is withdrawn from the liquid, saidswitch means including a liquid tight housing within said doll body, anair intake opening in the upper part of said housing, a flap valvewithin said housing in covering relation to said air intake and operableto prevent the flow of liquid therethrough, a liquid inlet opening inthe lower portion of said housing, a conduit placing said inlet in fluidcommunication with the exterior of said body, a float means pivotallysupported within said housing for movement between an upper and lowerportion of said housing, said float means including an electricalcontact extending outwardly of said housing and movable with said float,a second electrical contact outside of said housing in position forengagement by said movable contact, and flexible sealing means securedbetween said movable contact and said housing to permit movement of saidcontact while preventing the escape of 10 liquid from the housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,190,038 6/1965 Kardon 462323,229,421 1/1966 Ostrander 46-247 3,269,056 8/1966 Hockman et a1. 46-247LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. ROBERT F. CUTTING, AssistantExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R. 46119

